Adam Smith, the 18th century social philosopher and political economist, renowned as the father of modern economics, observed in his seminal work “The Wealth of Nations” that “sugar, rum, and tobacco are commodities which are nowhere necessaries of life, [but] which are ... objects of almost universal consumption, and which are therefore extremely proper subjects of taxation.”

Accumulated evidence on taxes from across the world, particularly on tobacco taxation, shows that taxing these products can offer a “win–win” for countries strengthening their health systems by increasing: positive health outcomes and domestic resources to fund priority investments and programs.  The public health impact, revenue generation, and increased equity all point to the value of a redoubled and sustained effort to support the utilization of this fiscal policy as a global public good. — blog.wb.org/blogs